Planting Beets Directly in Raised Garden Beds: How to Sow, Grow, and Harvest

These earthy root veggies are often underrated, despite their amazing taste and incredible versatility in the kitchen. Plus, they’re one of the easiest root vegetables to grow!

Whether you're planting red beets, golden beets, or the popular Detroit Dark Red variety, this cool-season crop is a top choice for gardeners, for the fall season because they are low-maintenance, fast-growing, and practically foolproof when grown in raised beds.

In this blog, you'll learn how to plant, grow, and harvest beets directly from raised garden beds, guiding you from seeds to harvest. Once you're done reading, check out the next blog on 'Most Popular Beet Recipes,' where you can discover dishes from borscht to pink hummus—so you’ll be ready to cook up something amazing once you harvest your beets!

1. Preparing the Raised Bed for Beets

Raised beds provide the perfect growing environment for root crops like beets because you can control the soil type, drainage, climate and nutrient levels more easily. 

Sunshine: Beets need full sun meaning at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight daily, since growing them in partial shade can lead to more foliage at the expense of root development. 

Soil Preparation: Run a soil test to confirm there is a proper nutrient balance in your soil. Beets thrive in well-drained, loamy soil rich in nutrients. Excessive nitrogen can result in lush leaf growth with fewer roots, therefore a soil pH of 6.0 to 7.0 is ideal for a plentiful harvest. 

Compost: Incorporating compost into the top layers of soil enriches soil fertility and improves its structure and drainage. 

Soil Temperature: Beets thrive in cooler weather. The best time to start sowing is in early spring when the soil temperature reaches 50°F (10°C). For a fall crop of beets, sow seeds in late summer, about 8-10 weeks before the last frost date.

Fill Your Bed: Use the Hugelkultur method to fill your raised garden beds and create an environment with good drainage and moisture conservation. This technique can help crops become almost self-sufficient and even tolerate some neglect. However, this doesn’t mean you can completely forgo watering your raised beds; it simply increases the chances of survival, especially once the roots are established.

2. Sowing Beet Seeds in Raised Garden Beds

Depth: Sow beet seeds about 1/2 inch deep in your raised beds. This depth is optimal for germination and root development, with enough soil coverage for warmth and moisture while keeping the seeds close to the surface for sprouting.

Spacing: Space seeds 2-3 inches apart in rows, or use the square foot gardening method to maximize space in your raised bed and allow air circulation and room for root expansion, which is crucial for healthy growth.

Soaking: Consider soaking seeds in warm water for a few hours before planting to speed up germination and soften the seed coat, promoting quicker sprouting.

Moisture Management: It’s important to keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged since overwatering can lead to seed rot and poor root development, so monitoring moisture levels is essential for successful sprouting.

3. Harvesting Beets Sown in Summer (for a Fall Harvest):

Sowing Time: Late summer (about 8-10 weeks before the first expected frost).

Harvest Time: Typically, beets are ready to harvest 50-70 days after sowing. You can harvest them after a few light frosts, which means harvest time is in late fall, before the first hard frost. It's essential to get them out of the ground before a hard frost, as this can damage the roots.

Frost Tolerance: Beets can tolerate light frosts, and cooler temperatures often improve their sweetness.

4. Harvesting Beets Sown in Spring (for a Summer Harvest):

Sowing Time: Sow in early spring, when soil temperatures reach 50°F (10°C) or higher.

Harvest Time: Spring beets take around 50-70 days to mature, so if you sow in early spring, you can expect to harvest them in late spring to early summer.

Heat Considerations: As temperatures rise, beets can become woody if left in the ground too long, making it best to harvest them before the peak heat of summer to maintain their tenderness and sweetness.

 

5. Caring for Your Beet Plants

Watering: Beets need regular watering, especially during dry spells or hot summers but avoid waterlogging, which can damage the root system of the plants.

Thinning: Once seedlings have emerged, thin the plants to about 4 inches apart to encourage the development of large, healthy beetroots.

Weed control: Beets have shallow roots, so be careful when weeding and use mulch to suppress weed seeds, retain soil moisture and protect from the weather.

Pest management: Watch out for flea beetles, leaf miners, and other small insects, the best way to keep it low maintenance is to use proper companion planting that helps deter pests from the raised garden beds.

6. Companion Planting for Beets

Good companions

• Onions: Help deter pests that may harm beet plants.
• Lettuce: With shallow roots, lettuce allows for efficient use of garden space alongside beets.
• Radishes: Fast-growing radishes can be harvested early, making room for beets to thrive.
• Cabbage family members: Plants like kale and broccoli benefit from the nutrients that beets provide in the soil.
• Garlic: Acts similarly to onions by offering pest-deterrent properties.

Bad companions

• Swiss Chard: Competes with beets for nutrients and can hinder their growth.
• Kohlrabi: Similar to Swiss chard, which competes with beets for space.
• Mustard Greens: Attract pests harmful to beets, increasing the risk of infestations.
• Fennel: Known for inhibiting the growth of many surrounding plants, including beets, leading to poor development.
• Potatoes: Compete for nutrients and space, often reducing yields for both crops.

7. Harvesting Technique

Your beets will be ready to harvest approximately 55 to 70 days after planting, depending on the specific varieties of beets. Keep in mind baby beets are ready when they reach the size of a golf ball, while larger roots can be left in the ground for more substantial vegetables. 

To harvest, gently pull up the roots from the leafy green stem. If you are interested in the leafy greens  The optimal time to harvest is when the leaves are 4 to 6 inches tall. Choose to either pull the entire plant or cut the tops, allowing the roots to continue growing​once they reach the right amount of time. 

8. Storage Tips for Beets

Storage of Beet Roots: Beets are best stored in a cool, dark place with high humidity to prolong their shelf life. They can last several weeks in the refrigerator and can be stored in a root cellar for several months, as long as they are kept dry and unwashed to prevent moisture buildup that can lead to rot.

Storage of Beet Greens: Beet greens should be washed and kept in the refrigerator to maintain freshness. They tend to wilt quickly and generally last no more than a week after harvest, so time is of essence.

9. Growing Beets in Challenging Conditions

If you're gardening in areas with heavy clay soil or light soils, beets can still thrive with some adjustments. Amend clay soil with sand and compost to improve drainage and aeration, or use raised beds filled with good soil. 

In regions with hot summers, use partial shade, mulch and cold frames to protect your beets from excessive heat.

10. Great Beet Varieties to Try

• Red Ace: A reliable variety with strong flavor and uniform roots.
• Golden Beets: Known for their signature color and sweet taste.
• Early Wonder: Perfect for early sowing in cool conditions.
• Detroit Dark Red: A classic beet that produces deep red, smooth roots

Final Thoughts 

Growing beets directly in raised garden beds is not complicated as long as you set them up for success. For example, implementing companion planting, thinning, and using the Hugelkultur method in your Vego garden raised beds helps keep plants healthy and in the right growing conditions. Additionally, beets have a reputation for being easy to grow, and with consistent care, you can enjoy a harvest in less than 70 days, allowing you to potentially harvest twice a year!

By following these practices and monitoring their growth, you'll maximize your beet yield and have fresh vegetables on your table throughout the growing season. Happy gardening!